Look for railway-trucks.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

0. MAASKANT. LOCK FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS.

APPLICATION FILEi) NOV- 27. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 848,256. PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

' G. MAA SKANT.

LOOK FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MW. 27. 1905;

z SHEETS-BEBE? 2.

Fi iTEEVAL BOVEN, TRAB-"SE 'AAL.

No. ceases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

IPatented March 26, 1907.

Application tiled November 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 289.348.

contents of railwaytrucks and other similar vehicles.

The objectof the invention is to prevent thefts of merchandise from such vehicles while in transit,

The' invention is applicable to covered trucks or vehicles fitted with either sliding or lunged or swinging doors.

According to this invention the door is fit-,

ted with a spring-catchwhich is engaged by a suitably-disposed electrically-operatedlock fitted in the side of the truck. The look is actuated by the passage of a current of electricity through an electromagnet or electromagnets, which attract an armature, releas ing a spring-controlled catch or catches to re lease the lock and allow the door of the truck or vehicle to be opened. The wires or conductors from the electro magnet or magnets actuating the lock are connected with a switchboard arranged inside the truck or v-ehicle. The switchboard consists of a plurality of metal contact-s, over whichmove two revoluble switches. erably numbered or otherwise marked to allow of the switches being placed in any position or on anypartioular contacts and so that a record can be kept of the exactpositions in which the switches have been placed. Two ringsol holes are formed through the truck coinciding with the metal contacts of the switchboard, and an electric battery is providcd having revoluble terminals which are adapted to be b ought into the same positions as the swi. a-hes on the switchboard, so that when conductor-pins are attacned to said revoluble terminals and projected from the outside through the holes in the truck contact is made with said contacts and the circuit closed. The armature is thereby at tractcd and the catch or catches firing the lock or locks rcleaserhwhioh allows tne door or doors of the i'fllCli to be The switchboard on the inside oi the truck is preferably protectodby a suitable box or cover, and it is preferably located at one end of the truck. l

The contacts are pref- I 1 The apparatus .inay be arranged so that f the locks are simultaneously actuated at both sides of the truck. In rd ,r to open the truck, it will be understood that the person or persons using the electric battery must be acquainted with the exact positions of the switches on the switchl board in the vehicle, and this information is imparted only thorized to have access truck or vehicle.

The invention will now be described in detail by aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a side elevation er a railwaydruck titted with sliding doors'with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 in which-the truck is provided with hinged or swinging doors. Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the truck. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the electric look as employed with the sliding door, with the front cover or ilate of the lock removed and showing in otted lines the position assumed by the door when closed. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the switchboard fitted inside the truck or vehicle. Fig. 7 is an elevation of a portion of the endof the truck, showing he holes or apertures through .Which the electrical conductor-pins passjto make conto the interior oflthe board. Fig. 8 is a "iii/I1 of a portion of the end of the vehicle, s rowing the switchboard and switches and also the electric battery with the conductor-pins which bypassing tlu-ough the apertures serve for making contact with the contacts of the switchboardl-o actuate the lock. Fig. of the electric battery tor-pins. Fig. 10 is an elevation of one o l the odnductonpins detached and drawn to sectional plan the lock applied to a vehicle fitted with lunged or swinging doors.

Referring to the Figs. '1 and 3 to 10, t-hesliding dodr is reprea casing c, construetedwith 'aiian'ge-.;c "by to the person or persons autact wdtl-L the metallic contacts of the switch 9 is a front elevation with the revqluble terminals to which are attached. the conducse an enlar ed scale. and Fi 11 re resents in" seated at a, and the sides of the carat a. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4. and 5, the

truck is fitted an electric lock, consisting of arrangement shown in free to rotate on pivots c in the Gil-SQ c.

means of which itis lixed on the inside of the truck. inside the casing 1: 1S arranged a; rev-v oluhlc catch, wh ch is shown iorincd Willi tour ro'ections which are aria red to ch ese.

the end of the spring-catch b to lock the door, as shown in Fig. The rcvoluhle catch is At each end of the four projections c of he revoluhle catch is formed or litted a nrojecting pin 0. In the casing a ti one side of the revoluble catch is titted e spindle 6 on which are loosely mounted two levers or hers 6. These levers c at one end are adopted to enthe pins 0. (3n the spindle c" are plecedtwo spiral springs (1 which et one clitreinity restupon the 'zn'ms of the levers r and serve to maintain them in contact with the pins 0*. in the casing c is fixed a rod or ban 6, which forms a stop for and is engaged by the other ends of the two levers c", the

springs c serving to keep the ends ol the le-.

vers c pressed against the her 6". in the op posite end of the casing c are arranged two electromegnets consisting of the inductioncoils d and iron cores or polcs'd. (Z d are the positive and negative electric wires or conductors connected by thc-terminhl scrhws d- With the induction-coils (l, which iatter'ere electricallv connected or in series. Arranged in front oi the cores (1 of the clectronmgnets is on crnmturc (1, which is constructed. with pivots 6, about which it can swing inside the casing c. This armature e is arranged so that it engages the ends of the levers c and keeps them against the rod c and prevents the rotation of the revoluhle catch. To one end of the armature e is attached a suitably strong spire-l spring 8 which serves for returning the armature e into position to engage the ends or" the two lovers c.

The lock is actuated to release the spring-- catch 1) in the following hummer: When the circuit is closed, the cores (1 of the electromagnets uttmct'thc armature r: andcause it to release or disengage theextrcmities of the two levers c". This allows the revolxziilc catch to rotate on its pivots 1", so that the spring-catch I) may disengage the projccthm c on the TCVOlulilC catch.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I show the arrangement of the switchboard,which i located inside the truck, preferably in proximity to the floor-level. This consists of the two ehonitc or other suitable disksf, in holes in which are fitted brass or other suitable contact-pieces f, arranged in H, circle. These contacts f, o'f'whi'ch ten are hown providcd on each disk, are numbered froi'n 0 to 9; but

instead of using numerals they may be otherwise marked. At the center ofmech oi the disks is rcvoluhly supported.eswitch h, each of which switches is providcd'witli 1i ham (llc to allow of its being rotated to piece it in electrical-l comieclion with :mv oncol its scries o'lf'ci-izxt irclsf. lo one of themswitches I It attached the positive'wire or Wires from 1 the lock or locks and to the other the negative wire or wires, so that the circuit is completed or closed through the two particular contacts f on which the su'itclws [L are placed. iis seen in Figs. 3, 7, and s, two rings oi holes il -fire formed through the truck in such positions that they coincide with the in Figs. 8 and 9 I show the box or case i, containing the electric batteries or cells 'which are adapted to supply siiiliciently strong current to attract the armature a to release the lock, previously described. This case i is constructed with notches or in dentetions j in the front corresprmdingin numher and position to the contacts? of the switchl'ioerd or the coincident holes 71/ in the truck. The positive termiriel or terminals of the cell or cellsere connected to a terminal is, revohihly attached to the frontof the cese i, which terminal is adapted to he placed in any one of its series of notches 7', formed in the front of the case 'i, and the negative terminal. 0!? terminals of the cell or cells are in like manner electrically connected with-mi other revohrhle terminal k, which is adopted to be pieced into any. one of the other series of notches j on the front of the battery-case i. The notches j are spaced to correspond with the spacing-of the holes it, formed in the "truck; The emls of the revoluhle terminals 7c are constructed with screw-threaded holes, into which are screwed two c0nductor-pins Z, (see Fig. 10,) which may he provided with platinum tips Z at theirouter ends. These conductor-pins Z in "length slightly exceed the length of the holes-1t, fOl'l-Hd in the truck, so that when they are pushed into the holes it they make contact with the metal contacts f of the switchboard.

The battery-case '2'. is shown provided with EL handle m for convenience in carrying it, undthe truck or other vehicle is shown pr0- vidcd'with a lcdge'oi" platform n on thc outilaced to push the conductor-pins i into the holes it: This platform 1?, is preferably hinged, as shown at n", so that it may be raised to cover the holes It to prevent the ingress of dust or other matter and is provided at such a. level that when the case i is resting upon it the notches j in the front of the case i coincide with the holes h, and thereby insure the conductor-pins i coinciding with the particular holes it according to the positions in which the rcvoluhle terminals 7c have been 'set.

Figs. '3 an truck or other vehicle fitted with hinged or swinging doors, the case a and general on rengcment of the lock are substantially the same as lliz'i shown and described in conneclion with Fig. 5.

ten contacts f carried by each of the disks 4 side, on which the battery-case i may he.

Refci'rin' to the aim-en ement shown in it, adapting tie invention to :1 I2 5 The electromegoets d 0', 3

armature c, rel'oluble czltch, and loeki11g-levers c operate in identicelly the same inanner when the currentis passed through the magnets towrelease the rev'oluhle catch. ihe electric lock is attached to one half of the door a, which is holted or otherwise secured on the inside of the truck, and in the other.

hall of the'door is located a spring-l: lt coniprising the bolt 0, and spring located in a recess at the inner end of the bolt 0, which bolt 0 and spring 0 are secured in position by means oi a plate u, fixed to the inside oi the door. When the revolunle catch ol the lock is released, as previously explained, it allows the half or the door a to which the spring bolt 0 is litted to he opened.

The trucks or other vehicles are preferably provided with similarly-constructed locks for Y the doors at each side of the vehicle a nd the Wires or conductors e are connected With the switches it of the switchboard in parallel, so that when the conductor-oins I make contact with the contacts j" the locks at both sides of the vehicle are actuated. In Fig. 3 i show this arrangement, the two negative conductors of the two locks heingctnniected to the one switch it and the two positive con ductors to the other switch 7t.

in-the case of the trucks with the swingin doors a (see Fig. 2) I provide two rosettes eontainim two connections to which the c trio wires cl ti are attach d a d connect b connections by means of flexible wires "ihis allows the door a to lrecly v; out placing anystrein on the wires or cond torso d. i I

in using the invention switches it on the switchboard are set o a y ea iculsr contactsj and a record 3: iereoi. doors (I of the truck hsvis. then necessary, in c. l r .0 re L on the doors, to know then-t mbers of the particular contacts f on which the s itches it have been placed, and this information is supplied in itny convenient manner to the person or per-- sons authorizes to reopen" the truck. 1 PM)t'lullzilf "tiiplztllltfll, the revo hle terminals 1t- :ue set in corresponding trons a .7 lront oi the hatlerjv'---ease no.0. the

tor-pins l having been sci rec in said terminals [if the cute. 'i is phitl'orni it and the coilill t ed into the parlienlar liol to the n 'ons ol' the role, so t p 9 i i corresocr res it on. the 1&1

ontact is rile-"' he truck or vehicle, said swithhoardpro- 'i ing a plurality ol' contacts for each switch, iduetors hetweenthcswitches aild th" i, an electric battery the termihalsoi fltllt'll are rewitahle and adapted to carr contact-pins, which pins through holes formed in the truck to make cont not with anyof the contacts of the switchboard,substantially described.

2. An apparatus of the nature indicated comprising an electricallyoperated lock lit/led to the door of the trucker vehicle, revol uhle switches and a switchboard located inside llie truck or vehicle said switchboard being constructed to provide a plural'ty of conliacts for each switcl'i, conductors between the switches and lock, and electric hatter) the terminals of which are revolulile and adapted to carry contact-pins, which pins are adapted to pass through ho s formed in the truck to llllllifi contact will any of contacts of the s "itchl;tmrd, Sl1l bll2li1i itilf as deserihod.

An apparatus ol the nature in coinprisi else rieallywoerated led to the door ol'- ll e truck or veniele, snatches and a switehl.

' truck or vehicle, the switehlmard p1'o rid me a plurality if conaets for each switch, conductors between the switches and the lock, c or box Winch serves for inclosing an eleetzle battery the l'ront of WlllCll case or hex is an rlted to correspond with the positions ol the contacts of the liernnne s revoiuhl n" which are adapted to he placed in cosition to make co ire-ct w 1 any o'll he cor "lets ol the switc board, and comhxetor-pi fitted to l 1 :lnhle lerznii "lswhieh serve for makart with s u contacts, substantially as (Lescrihed.

An apparatus of the nature indicated comprising i n. elsetrieally-ooerr .ed lock lit led to the door of the truck or Vehicle, sw tches and a switchhosrd located inside "ruck or vehicle, he switchboard provida plurality of contacts for each switch, lruelt having formed thro 'h it holes dii- " nets ()1. switch eats. hed lot i is llF. n. Ella. Praise Zlllll to l s holes in the rated in the ease v i I I I u "ltches and. a switchboard located insideare adapted to pass ward located inside switchboard, and

ICC

111 an) apparatus of the um. um indicated between the switches and-the-lock and a case :1 wave 01' box which serves fur inclbsing am battery, Saul case having 101111041 111 its exterior notches corrgsponding in position lu the contacts of the swilchbuard, rcvuluble len'l'llnals which are adapted to be plzwed in Sillll notches and conductor-pins fixed to will revoluble terminals, an electrical lock, swiizclms cl :1 switchbmml inside the inn-L; lul mimtidm; with the mmiuuts ml tlw SWlflli lmmxl through W .mh the cu1uluctor-pins 1 have Men having ,m'ojeciimns at mlrnllzllew 1 (lap?- gn: \"tluns ta k 7%?- mr which serves as n atop for .cn mu ml. m an v mu (m-nil zzi' stmuialiy as i l boa-ml luczzted inside the vehicle, said swit b02111! providlglg a plm lm lity 0f confiacts for 5. ll dlL ('xnrillifitu's between the SWllLL' and ilw 200k, an eleci'ri battery and. detach abl? mmmubpins Q'YUS'Glt l l i l 1 l l l l l the on u n m relaase the lock, substantially I to make I i14 switvlv Sb duacli'lbed.

, 7. An apparatus such as described (01m prising m1 elmutrlcully-mpemtecl luck litied Lu door m the vehicle, switches and a swlt l1,-

lug the terminals theg'efur which pills are adapted to pass I through lwlms formed 111 Mm truck to make con-mztwitl\ any of the. contacts of the swiclaboanl lu (-vlnse Hm circuit.

vlc. whemol i have llGI'BLLYL-LK) sotmy hand In the pzff'svnw ml fwo subscnbm ,2" Wm- 

